Base fitting for interior walls



194? v R. E. SLUYTER ET AL 2,307,338

BASE FITTING FOR INTERIOR WALLS Filed Dec. 7, 1940 Patented Jan. 5, 1943orrics,

BASE FITTING FOR INTERIOR WALLS Ross E. Sluyter and Charles F. Mal'tby,Herkimer, N. Y.

Application December 7, 1940, Serial No. 369,096

' 6 Claims. 21. -74) This invention relates to fittings for finishinginterior walls adjacent the floor, and more particularly to fittings fora so-called sanitary coved base formed of flexiblefioor'covering; I

Ithas for some time been customary, in using flexible floor coveringsin" sheet form such as linoleum to turn the edges of such-floor coveringso that they extend a short distance up the wall, and to place in thecorner between the floor and wall a substantially triangular fillerstrip having a cove face, seas to support the floor covering andcause'it to assume the-form of a smooth curve. I II I 1 I It has alsobeen proposed to provide fittings both for inside and outside cornershaving edges against which the edgesof the floor covering abut,-s'uchcorner fittings being made of sheet metal. I I I I I It has been foundin practice, however, that such sheet metal corner fittings are more orless unsatisfactorybecause of the fact that they are easily dented ordeformed and also because the superficial finish-suchas paint or thelike, with which I they are covered, is apt to become scratched and tocrack oft. I

Orieobject of the present invention is to provide fittings ofthischaracter whichwill not be subject to thesedisadvantages, and tothis end,

weproposetomould such fittings from suitable Suchplastic material ofsubstantial thickness. moulded fittings will be substantially rigid andnon-deformablaandmoreover, can be colored as desired by incorporatingcoloring matter in theplastic materialitself so that it is distributedthroughout the mass of the same, thus producing a color which isabsolutely permanent. Another object of the invention is to providefittings of this character having improved means for securing them tothe wall. I

Still anotherobject is to provide fittings having portions whichcooperate with and form a continuation of the filler strip, abovementioned.

Other objects-and advantages will'hereinafter appear from the-followingdescription. I

In order that the invention may be readily understood-reference is had,by way of illustrabeing- 1 wall to form a base.

Fig.3 is a plan view showing a modified form of inside corner fitting;and I Fig. 4 is a typical-section through a wall and floor showing thefloor covering extending up the Referring to the drawing in detail, Xindicatesa plaster wall which may be of the usual or any desiredconstruction,- while Y designates the floor. I I I I In Fig. 1, we haveshown three difierent types of fittingsfor use in different locations,namely, an outside corner fitting l, an inside corner fitting 2, and anend stop fitting 3. I i

The outside corner fitting I l comprises two angularly disposed portionswhich fit around the corner, as shown, in snug engagement with thewalL-andan angular base or flange l which rests upon the floor, therearsuri'ace of the body I and the bottom surface of the flange l whichengage the wall and floor respectively, being at right angles to eachOthell.

Projecting laterally from each side of the litting l at a point adjacentthe base flange P is a wing portion 4, provided with a nail hole 5through which a nail may-be driven intothe usual wood ground at thebottom of thewall, as shown at Tin Fig. 4. The upper edge of the body Iof the fitting is preferably bevelled, as,

shown at I. I I

The fitting 2, for the inside corner, comprises a pair of angularlydisposed portions adapted to fit within such corner, as shown, andterminating at its lower end in a point i The fitting 2 is formed ateach side nearthe bottom with laterally projecting wing portions 4,similar in shape to those employed in connection with the fitting I. Asclearly shown in Fig. 1, the rear and bottom surfaces of the wingportions 4 lie in the same planes as the corresponding surfaces ofthe-fittings themselves, and meetat right angles, so that they snuglyengage the wall and fioor, respectively. The upper end-of the fitting isalso preferably bevelled,as shown at 2, and may be provided with a nailhole 6 for the re ception of a nail l,- as shownin Fig. 3.- I I Finally,the end stop fitting 3, shown at the right of Fig. l, is used where thefloor covering terminates, as for example a-t door or other wallopenings. It is provided at its lower end with a rectangular base 3 andwith a laterally projecting wing portionl, having a cove surface,similar .to those previously-described. Its upper end is also preferablybevelled, as shown at 3.

We provide improved means for securing the outside corner fitting l -tot'he wall.- This improved means comprises a pair of spaced recessed lugs8, projecting from the rear face of the angular fitting and soconstructed as to snap over and embrace the usual metal corner bead :r,having a laterally enlarged edge commonly employed for reinforcing thecorners of plaster walls. As shown in Fig. 1, these lugs 8 need extenddownwardly only a short distance, and it will be understood that theplaster, adjacent the bead :c at the pointwhere the lugs engage it, iscut away as shown.

As stated in the preamble, our improved fittings are preferably mouldedfrom suitable plastic material with the wings 4 integral therewith. Thefittings are of substantial thickness, and are thus relatively rigid andnon-deformable, so as not to be injured by the ordinary blows to whichbaseboards are subjected. The

plastic material, however, is preferably sufficiently elastic, whenhard, to permit the slight distortion necessary for the lugs 8 to snapover the bead 12. The moulded fittings may therefore be described assubstantially rigid but slightly elastic.

The end stop fitting 3 is provided on its rear face with a recessed lug9, which preferably extends down the full length thereof, as shown indotted lines, and the free edge of which is adapted to engage behind anoverhanging edge y of a door frame y or other structural wall element.This door frame is shown in Fig. 1 as covered with sheet metal, but itmay be of any other suitable construction.

It will be seen that the side edges l 3 etc., of the base portions ofthe fittings are of substantial thickness, preferably slightly greaterthan the thickness of the floor covering material, and of the same orderas that of the side edges 2 etc., of the body portions of the fittings,so as to provide a shoulder against which the edges of the floorcovering abut.

The filler strip, hereinbefore referred to, is shown at h), and from aninspection of Fig. 1, it will be seen that this strip is substantiallytriangular in cross section and is formed with a cove face. The frontedge Id of the strip I0 is in alinement with theedge t of the wingportions.

The upper face of these wing portions 4 is also cove shaped and conformssubstantially with the cove face of the filler strip I0.

In practice, it will be understood that sections of filler strip of theproper length are positioned to extend between adjacent wing portions 4,with their ends abutting, so that said Wing portions form, in effect, acontinuation of the filler strip at each end thereof. In other words,the cove face of the aligned filler strip and wing portions forms acontinuous smooth curve between fittings for supporting the flexiblefioor covering material.

The lower and upper ends 4* and 4 of the wing portions 4, as well as thefiller strip, are brought to a feather edge.

In Fig. 4, the linoleum or similar fioor covering is indicated at Z, andbeneath such floor covering, it is the common practice to use a liner offelt or the like. This is indicated at .2. When such a liner is used, itis first placed in position on the floor, and terminates at the wall.The fittings such as I, 2 and 3 are then secured in position, and thefiller strip l0 placed on top of the lining as shown in Fig. 4. Then thelinoleum or other flexible fioor covering, after having been properlycut, is laid in such a manner that it extends over the cove faces of theassembled wing portions 4 and filler strip or molding 10 up the wallbetween the fittings such as I and 2, or 2 and 3, the floor coveringthus assuming a smooth unbroken curve. As shown in Fig. 4, the fitting,such as 2, projects slightly beyond the thickness of the linoleum orother floor covering material. Along the upper edge of the material, itis customary to apply a base cap molding or finishing strip of suitabledesign, as indicated at w in Fig. 4, to cover and conceal the raw edge,but this may be omitted, if desired.

While in Fig. 1, we have shown corner fittings of the angular type, theinvention also contemplates making these fittings of the rounded orcurved type, if desired. Such a curved or rounded outside corner fittingis shown at l in Fig. 2. It is provided on its inner or rear face, atthe top, with a pair of spaced, recessed lugs 8, adapted to snap overand interlock with the relatively wide rounded edge of bead x. p

In Fig. 3, we have shown an inside corner fitting 2, having a curved orrounded form instead of the angular shape shown in Fig. 1. If desired, apiece of cove molding or other suitable filling may be placed behind thecurved fitting, as shown in Fig. 3.

Also, in Fig. 3, it will be noted that the wing portions 4', instead ofextending out to the point of the corner fitting as in Fig. 1, terminateshort thereof. Either method may be employed, as desired, dependingsomewhat upon the degree of curvature of the particular corner fittingconcerned.

As set forth in the preamble, another important advantage of forming theimproved fittings from moulded plastic material, as distinguished fromsheet metal, relates to the question of finish. With fittings made ofsheet metal or the like, which can be only superficially colored, thiscolor becomes easily chipped and scratched. In our improved mouldedfittings, however, the coloring material is distributed throughout themass of the fitting and is thus absolutely permanent and cannot beremoved. Thus, it is possible to produce these fittings in any desiredcolors which will harmonize with the particular fioor covering beingused, such colors constituting a lasting and unchanging finish.

What we claim is:

l. A fitting for finishing interior walls adjacent the fioor comprisinga vertically extending portion adapted to engage the wall, a base por-.tion adapted to engage the floor, and a wing:-

portion projecting laterally from the base portion and having a coveface lying below the adjacent face of said base portion, the rear andbottom surfaces of said wing portion meeting at an angle and adapted toengage the wall and floor, respectively. r

2. A fitting for finishing interior walls adjacent the fioor comprisinga vertically extending portion adapted to engage the wall, a baseportion adapted to engage the fioor, and a wing portion projectinglaterally from they base portion and having rear and bottom surfaceslying respectively in the planes of the wall engaging and fioor engagingportions of the fitting, said wing portion having a cove face, and saidfitting having an upstanding shoulder separating said cove face from theadjacent face of said base portion.

3. The combination with a floor and a wall rising therefrom, of a covemolding filling the corner between the wall and floor, and a fitting forfinishing the base of said Wall, said fitting comprising a verticallyextending body adapted to engage the wall and rest on the fioor at theend of said molding, said fitting being provided, at its lower end, witha laterally projecting wing formed with rear and bottom surfaces adaptedto engage the wall and floor respectively, said wing having a cove faceconforming substantially with and constituting a continuation of theface of said molding, the end of said wing abutting the end of saidmolding, and said cove face lying below the adjacent face of said body,and being separated therefrom by an upstanding shoulder.

4. The combination with a floor and a wall rising therefrom and havingan outside corner, of a substantially rigid corner bead extending alongsaid corner and having a laterally enlarged edge, and a finishingfitting of solid molded material comprising a vertically disposed bodyconstructed to extend around said corner and engage the wall at eachside thereof, said fitting having on its rear face, adjacent its upperend, a pair of spaced recessed lugs adapted to embrace the enlarged edgeof said corner beadand thus lock the fitting in position, the materialof the fitting being sufficiently resilient to permit said lugs to snapover and engage behind said enlarged edge, and said fitting alsocomprising a flaring base portion adapted to engage the floor and havingnormally concealed fastening means at the side of said base portionwhereby it may be independently secured in position.

5. A fitting for finishing interior walls adjacent the fioor comprisinga vertically extending body portion adapted to engage the wall, a baseportion adapted to engage the floor, and a wing portion projectinglaterally from the base portion and having rear and bottom surfacesmeeting at an angle and adapted to engage the Wall and fioorrespectively, said wing portion having a cove face lying below theadjacent face of said base portion, and said body portion above saidwing portion having a side edge of substantial thickness, said edgecontinuing down past said wing portion and constituting a shoulderseparating said wing and base portions.

6. The combination with a floor and a wall rising therefrom, and a covemolding filling the corner between the wall and floor, of a fitting forfinishing the base of said wall, said fitting comprising a verticallyextending body adapted to engage the wall and rest on the fioor at theend of said molding, said body having a side edge of substantialthickness,- and said fitting being provided at its lower end with alaterally projecting wing formed with rear and bottom surfaces adaptedto engage the wall and floor respectively, said wing having a cove facelying below the adjacent face of said body and terminating adjacent thewall and floor in feather edges, said face conforming substantially withand constituting a continuation of the face of said molding, the end ofsaid Wing abutting the end of said molding, and a sheet of flexiblefloor covering extending up along the wallover the cove face of saidwing and molding, and with its edge abutting the said side edge of thebody of said fitting.

ROSS E. SLUYTER. C L E.

